Wednesday, August 6, 2014

How to Choose your Next Car

These days, more and more of us are driving. Some of us do
this for a good reason – we have jobs that are far away, sometimes even across
state lines. Unless you live in the city, chances are good that you have to
drive to your job, and the grocery store, and the doctor's office, and the
mall, etc., etc. You may have had an old car that lasted longer than you
thought it would, but it's finally died and now you are left with a choice to
make: what kind of car do you want?

There are several factors that you will need to consider and
here are some of the most important ones:

Your Current Budget

This will determine a great deal about your purchase. If you
aren't making a lot of money, a used car might be a better option for you. If
you have a bit more to spend, financing a more expensive car (or even saving up
and buying one outright) might not be impossible. Consider your financial
situation, calculate how much payments for prospective cars would affect your
budget (make sure to include gas and car insurance in that estimate), and
never, ever opt for something out of your price range based on a hoped-for
promotion or similar. You can always trade in later for a shiny truck with
Vogue tires!

City or Country?

While it's a stereotype, there's a reason that there are a
lot of trucks in the country and teeny little cars in the city. Having a
monster truck does not help you parallel park in a tiny space or get good gas
mileage on those clogged artery-like streets. On the other hand, the country
not only has wide open roads, but also a lot of workers and farmers who need
the cargo space and off-road capabilities of larger vehicles. Take the amount
of inner-city driving you have to do and your parking situation (do you have a
garage or private lot?) into account when choosing a vehicle.

Are You Planning on
Having Kids?

Even if you and your spouse are just thinking about having
kids, you should take that into consideration when purchasing a car. After all,
vehicles are long-term investments that can last well over a decade, at which
point you may need more than a two-seated sports car. Of course, that doesn't
mean that you need to invest in a minivan! You can always choose a sporty
four-seated coupe or perhaps a practical SUV.

No matter what you choose, make sure that it is appropriate
to your budget, lifestyle, and working situation.